Characterisation & Radio Play

What are Aspects of Voice?

• pitch - high or low
• pace - fast or slow
• tone - soft or harsh
• volume - loud or quiet
• silence - pause
• intonation - rising in pitch at the end of a sentence e.g. when asking a question
• accent - pronunciation of words which communicates where a character might come from

THE RULES OF HOTSEATING

• Ask relevant questions
• Be polite and respectful in your questions. You don’t want to offend the character!
• Listen carefully to one another’s questions so you don’t repeat one
• Listen carefully to the answers, can they help you think of another question?
• Ask in depth questions to help you learn as much as you can about the character and their situation

What do I need to think about when I create a character?

LANGUAGE

PHYSICALITY

ASPECTS OF VOICE

When you combine these different elements together you can create well-rounded and credible characters.

What makes a good radio play?

• Contributing several ideas which show imagination and are appropriate to the narrative

• Correct layout of script, including use of FX
• Working cooperatively and sensitively

• Sustaining role and executing cues on time
• Clear sense of character different from themselves that shows some imagination
• Use of vocal expression and language to communicate character, emotion and context (3 W’s)
• Use of sound effects to communicate context and atmosphere
• Awareness of other performers in timing and balance of volume

KEYWORDS:

audience awareness

Consideration of your audience

balance

How one aspect of a performance works with another e.g. the balance of volume between voices and FX

characteri-sation

Creating a character - 3 Ws

cue

Something you do or say that is a signal to a performer or technician

dialogue

Words spoken by characters

FX

Sound cue

gait

The way a character walks

gesture

Small hand or head movement

hoseating

Questioning an actor in role to develop knowledge and understanding about them

narrative

Storyline/plot

physical control

Being in control of your movements

physicality

The way in which an actor uses their body to communicate (body language, facial expression, gesture)

point of focus

Where you are looking

proxemics

What the use of space communicates

radio play

a play written for radio, to be performed in sound only

The 3 W’s

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I doing?

3rd eye

Stepping out of the piece to view from the audience’s perspective